Kalidou Koulibaly has finally completed a much-anticipated move to the Premier League, signing for Chelsea after years of speculation.
The former Napoli defender had long been linked with a move away from Serie A in favour of the Premier League, but a move never seemed to materialise with Manchester United and Manchester City most commonly named as interested parties in previous years.
But, now older and wiser, Chelsea have made it count and snapped up the Senegalese defender in a deal worth around £33 million, shoring up their defensive ranks following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
While many are aware of Koulibaly's obvious qualities as a defender having been so integral for Napoli and Senegal over the years, there are also plenty of fans concerned that a move to England might just have come too late.
It's an understandable question to raise, too. Especially when transfer fees are involved and there is a risk that the money spent could immediately look like a poor investment.
However, defenders have long proven that they can come into their peak in their later years, and Thiago Silva's success at Stamford Bridge since joining the club in 2019 proves that Koulibaly absolutely can be a hit in the Premier League at just 31.
Frenkie de Jong latest (Football Terrace)
With sports science improving and the longevity of players increasing, it's becoming more common to see major names earning big moves beyond what people would assume are their peak years, and clubs actually willing to cough up a considerable transfer fee, despite an advancing age.
To highlight the shifting agenda around football's more senior stars, Bleacher Report have produced a graphic of the most expensive transfers for players over 30, and it's generated plenty of interest over on Reddit.
The list is actually rather shocking, and puts into perspective just how misconstrued the narrative is surrounding players over 30 in the modern game, with two signings from this summer's transfer window already making the list. Be sure to take a look below.
So, Koulibaly's move to Chelsea this summer has already become the sixth most expensive transfer ever for a player over the age of 30, at the time of writing.
But, it's not the only recent addition to the list. Robert Lewandowski, currently 33 years old, moved to Barcelona in a deal worth an initial £38m, which has the potential to rise in add-ons.
Watching how he gets on at the Camp Nou will be intriguing. Everyone has become accustomed to Lewandowski's rampant firing rate, but this is the first time he's been tested in another top league that isn't the Bundesliga.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 23: Robert Lewandowski #12 of Barcelona warms up before a preseason friendly match against Real Madrid at Allegiant Stadium on July 23, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 1-0. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
There are some other truly astounding pieces of business in the list. Cristiano Ronaldo's 2018 move to Juventus tops the lot and is unlikely to be beaten anytime soon, while Miralem Pjanic's disastrous move to Barcelona in 2020 comes in at second.
Paulinho's move to the Camp Nou also comes in at fourth, and when you consider how it went for the midfield duo after signing for the club, it's not hard to see how they've ended up in such a financial mess.
Leonardo Bonucci makes the list twice, for his move to AC Milan in 2017, and the subsequent return to Juventus merely a season later after a failed season at the San Siro.
TURIN, ITALY - APRIL 23: Leonardo Bonucci of Juventus FC celebrates a goal during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Genoa CFC at Juventus Stadium on April 23, 2017 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
What will be interesting to monitor is how much longer Gabriel Batistuta's 2000 transfer from Fiorentina to Roma can stay on the list for. With players extending their peaks more and more, it's surprising to see it still makes the list at all.
As for Koulibaly and Lewandowski, though, all eyes will be on the pair of them to see if they can get off to the bright start their clubs desperately need them to heading into the new season.